What to buy colleague?

[Itsmyluckyegg]

I am a teacher in my first year. I have two, part time teaching assistants. One permanent who I have known for quite a few years, the other, agency staff who has been with me around 6 weeks and has been asked to come back next term.

I want to get them both a gift for Christmas to say thank you however the agency TA is Muslim and doesn’t celebrate Christmas.

I have brought cakes in before as a treat for us, but would like something a little more special, any ideas? She is off tomorrow as she is full of a cold so would need get it over the weekend.

I usually get something from Hotel Chocolate on these kind of situations!

I want to get them both a gift for Christmas to say thank you however the agency TA is Muslim and doesn’t celebrate Christmas.

Eh? You don’t need to celebrate Christmas to accept a gift from someone who does.

Have you never been bought an Eid or Diwali gift?

You can celebrate the end of term, though.

But at work, we used to have treats at Eid and Christmas- in fact I was more likely to be given a Christmas card from Muslim and Sikh colleagues than the church goers (still don't fully get that, but it was nice anyway.)

Obviously not alcoho but what's the budget? What do they like? Posh chocs is probably a good option.

yeah with regard to whether on not someone celebrates Christmas - it’s your custom and I feel certain that your gift will be appreciated!

@MuddyPawsIndoors no, I haven’t ever been bought an Eid or Diwali gift.

I just didn’t want to offend her or make her feel uncomfortable.

I would say my budget is around £10 to £15 but I’m not sure what she likes, she isn’t overly chatty. I will see what Hotel Chocolate have to offer.

In all my 55 years on earth I've never met a Muslim whose been 'offended' at being bought a thoughtful gift by anyone.

Honestly, this is the sort of thing the gutter press stirs up.

Get her the same as the other TA, assuming you'll be staying away from anything that contains pork or alcohol.

There are a few tiny minority sects in every faith in this country that doesn't celebrate Xmas for various reasons. They are few and far between.

I have worked in environments where people of the Islamic faith were the highest proportion in the UK. As well as non-Muslim staff being very welcome guests during Eid celebrations our colleagues also brought in chocolates, etc, as gifts to share during the Xmas period. There were always trees, always Xmas meals (although these were framed as end of year events as some of our sites had a lot of Jewish colleagues celebrating Hannukah round the same time). We had Secret Santa and all faiths took part. At one point a colleague felt our team's Xmas tree was letting the side down and went bought some better decorations - yep, she was Muslim.

My Muslim colleagues celebrated Xmas for two reasons. First Jesus is deeply respected in the faith. Secondly it is a major cultural event in the British society they are part of, where they work and their kids go to school.

It is time to stop the myth about Muslims and Xmas largely propogated by the Daily Mail and its friends.

So if buying food products, make sure it is Halal - so you're safe if you go for suitable for vegetarians and alcohol free. One thing I learnt about Muslim colleagues though - they tend to be very generous indeed.

Other TA is getting a bottle of Baileys as I know that is her go to drink.

I will head into Manchester this weekend and get her the chocolate.

It is time to stop the myth about Muslims and Xmas largely propogated by the Daily Mail and its friends.

Yes, and it's very important that if it doesn't start at home, that it starts in schools with teachers and teaching staff.

If they're 'othering' colleagues, they're very probably othering Muslim pupils too, whether they realise it or not.

Just say it is an end of term thank you present. It's really nice of you to get both of them a present.

No, just say it's a Christmas present because it is.